“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” – Proverbs 4:23

Happy New Year! Let’s start 2025 with our focus on God!

I have begun this year trying to stop my mind from wandering off into the wide blue yonder.

Have you ever driven to a destination and wondered how you got there? Oh, come on, never? I have a few times. Some people will tell you that they get into autopilot mode, but is that safe? I can’t say whether it is safe or not, but the times it has happened to me, nothing catastrophic has occurred; I was safe. I got home, or wherever my destination was, without mishap. However, I truly believe that we should be very present when we are driving.

So, like that autopilot drive home, how often in our lives are we not mindful of what is going on around us? I think we would be surprised by how many words, scenarios, and moments of joy or sadness we miss because we’re not staying in the moment.

While doing things on autopilot can have benefits, such as functioning more efficiently without caring about every little detail, being on autopilot means we won’t experience as much boredom with our daily activities. However, like a coin, there are two sides to this part of our function. It can also introduce an element of danger when doing tasks like driving, or even simple tasks like walking down a set of stairs.

In our work environments, being on autopilot will cause us to be prone to making mistakes. We may continue doing things the same old way because we are comfortable with working on autopilot and not having to engage in the creative side of our brain.

The last thing we want is more stress, but we do need to take time out of our autopilot environment if we want to move in the ways God has for us. I challenge you this next month: take a daily break to move out of autopilot, pray, seek God, and then act. Don’t get stressed about it; even stepping out of autopilot for ten minutes a day is a very good start.

Be encouraged. God is not done yet; He has the best plan ever!